Kavalan Distillery Select No. 1

Nose: Honey Nut Cheerios with sliced granny smith apples that have been tossed in lemon juice. Subtle oak character comes through a little, along with some fresh thyme. Pineapple and potpurri - perfumy. Relatively bright and shiny overall, though not unappealing. Palate: That honeyed malt character comes through, along with some herbal, vegetal character. Vanilla and honey. Lightly roasted nut and oak. Dark chocolate and maybe a touch of dusty leather. Maybe a little varnish. The citrus is still here, though much sweeter and less bright. Buttermilk. Tannins mostly in texture, though there's some bitterness. Very top-heavy, with almost no bottom-end to speak of. Mostly on the front and mid-palate. Light mouthfeel. Finish: Big splash of thyme, lemon, bell peppers. Oak and waxy nuts come in, along with a nice hit of black pepper. Lemon pepper comes to mind now, and a touch of mint - which we fade out on. Medium short length. Other notes: This is like a lighter, brighter Highland. What's present in this glass is clearly informed by a palate that's pretty different from my own. This brings some unique character that, while familiar as a whiskey, differs in overall profile in a really enjoyable way. Branded as something designed for mixing, this still holds up well by itself. I could see this being an excellent glass during a hot summer evening in a sour or with some soda water. Or even simply neat. If this is what they bring for the mixing crowd, I have high hopes for their other offerings. Not something I'd feel compelled to always have in my home bar, but something I can absolutely suggest for somebody seeking something a little different. Cheers!